Can opener



Nov. 23 1926. 1,607,965 I F. POLIER CAN OPENER Filed June 23, 1924 Patented Nov. 2 3, 1926.

warren STATES FREDRICH POLIER, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

CAN OPENER.

Application filed June as, 1924. Serial No. 721,948.

' This invention relates to improvements in i can openers.

The principal object of my invention isthe provision of an opener for cans which may be conveniently and safely used on cans of all standard sizes and wherewith the cans may be cleanly cut close to their peripheral edges and whereby the cut edge left upon the can is turned downwardly in thecutting operation leaving a smooth edge fitting the can for various useful purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provid e an opener for cans affording a simple and novel means for adjust-i'ng'the cutting knife and handle to suit the various heights of cans.

Other objects and advantages andobjects relating to details of construction of the invention will be readily apparent in the course of the detailed description to follow.

The accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example one form of my invention, in which: 7

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of my invention illustrative in operative position to open a can.

Fig. 2 is a detached view in side elevation of the knife element of the invention and handle therefor.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the base.

Fig. 4 is a view in rear elevation of the standard, detached.

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of the plate.

Referring to said views, the reference nu- Ineral 1 indicates a base for supporting the sheet-metal can operated upon by my im. proved can opener, said base having a plane can-supporting upper surface 2. Said base is mortised at 3 along its rear edge to receive I a standard 5 in rigid perpendicular relation. Said standard is of rectangular configuration and is relatively wide in its direction parallel with said rear edge of the base and eX- tends upwardly to a height sufiicient to accommodate the cans desired. Said standard is provided with a plurality of spaced holes 6 disposed in vertical relation through the narrow width of the standard and directed toward a line perpendicular to the center of said base 1.

Numeral 7, see Fig. 5, indicates a metal bearing-plate of rectangular configuration provided with a pivot-pin 8 rigidly secured therein at a spaced distance above the lower guide-edge 10 of the plate. Said pin 8 is formed with ahead 11 on its end projecting from the front of said plate 7 between which head. and the'plate a knife-handle l2 .ispivoted'through ahole 13 at one end of the handle. The opposite end of'said pin 8 upon the reverse side of the plate is adapted to be extended through any of the holes 6 with which it may make a snug fit and may be screw-threaded to receive a securing nut, not shown, at the rear of the standard,if desired. -15indicates a. stud extending from the rear face of said plate and spaced above said pin 8 the distance between one or two holes so that when thepin 8 extends through one'hole the stud 15 will enter a hole there-' above and assist in securing the plate in place and against turning when the device .is in operation. Y

Said handle 12 is formed in substantially a parabolic curve. The inner end provided with the hole 13 is curved slightly away from said plate to which it is attached by the pin 8 but is nearly parallel therewith while at 16 where the knife 17 is secured it is curved more sharply and is substantially concentric with the vertical axis of the base 1, and out wardly of the curved portion 16 the handle is substantially straight at about forty-five degrees angle to the front face of the standard.

The knife 17 is curved in conformity with the handle-part 16 to which it is attached rigidly by rivets 18 at its upper edge while it is formed with a penetrating point 20 at its forward lower portion and with a cutting edge 21 rearwardly thereof curved in the same direction but upon a flatter arc than its upper edge where it is connected with the handle so that it will make acut having a lesser curvature than the base and less than most of the cans upon which it is used.

In the operation of the can opener the plate 7 is adjusted on the standard at a height conforming to the height of the can to be cut. The bottom guide-edge 10 provides a gauge for the setting of the plate relative to the can and the plate is set upon the standard as near as may be to present said edge 10 at the level of the top of the can.

The pin 8 is protruded through a hole 6 of the standard and the stud 15 is entered atthe same time within asimilar hole thereabove with the plate flush against the front face of the standard.

The can is held firmly upon the base by the operator with his left hand and with its side Wall against the standard while with a the other hand he manipulates the handle 12 to penetrate the top of the can close to its peripheral edge. The knife 17 will make an incision slightly curved in the circular direct-ion ofthe can so that its cutting edge will follow the rim of the can and as the can is turned by the operator as the cut is made it will make a cut close to the rim of the can. Relatively short strokes of the knife are made in succession while the can is being turned by the left hand of the opera-- tor which will resut in a can closely out about its rim with the short raw edge that is made turned downwardly against the side wall inside o't the can so that no jagged edges are left. I The device is easily and quickly adjusted for cutting cans of various heights. For cutting many cans of the same height the pin may be retained at the back by a simple device, such as a nut, as above stated.

While I have described my invention with considerable detail I do not wish to be understood as confining myself to the precise form of the invention disclosed as obviously minor changes may be made in the details oi the invention by those skilled in a hand grip of suitable contour on the free end of said handle.

2. A can opener having in combination a base, a standard rising "from said base, an adjustable plate attached to said standard, acurved arm attached pivotally to said plate, a blade attached to said arm, and a hand grip of suitable contour on the free end oi said arm. a

FREDRICH POLIER. 

